Significance of water quality to fish propagation, waterfowl habitat, livestock watering, and recreation use for 24 lakes and reservoirs in Valley and Phillips Counties, Montana

Ferreira, R. F.

Abstract:

Twenty-four reservoirs were sampled for water quality to determine their suitability for fish propagation, waterfowl habitat, livestock watering, and recreation. Reservoir-surface areas ranged from 0.2 to 146 hectares and depths ranged from 0.01 to 6.0 meters. Of the reservoirs studied, six generally had water quality that would not be detrimental to fish propagation. Most of the reservoirs were enriched with nutrients and supported large concentrations of phytoplankton and dense growth of aquatic plants. In late winter and late summer, enrichment of shallow reservoirs often resulted in dissolved-oxygen concentrations less than 5.0 milligrams per liter, which is detrimental to fish. Three reservoirs lacked aquatic plants for water fowl habitat. Four reservoirs had small dissolved-oxygen concentration in the bottom water that might be critical to the protection of waterfowl if botulism were to occur. Specific conductance of water samples from three reservoirs was sufficiently close to the criterion of 4,800 microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees celsius to be regarded as potentially hazardous to livestock. However, most of the reservoirs generally would not be conducive to recreational swimming. Visibility was limited in most of the reservoirs. In addition, leech populations and growth of submersed aquatic plants in most of the reservoirs would be a nuisance to swimmers. (USGS)

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USGS Numbered Series

ProdID:

27068

Citation Author:

Ferreira, R. F.

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ENGLISH

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v, 63 p. :ill., map ;28 cm.

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U.S. Geological Survey,

Citation Series:

Water-Resources Investigations Report

Citation Series Code:

WRI

Citation Series Number:

83-4008

Citation Search Results Text:

Significance of water quality to fish propagation, waterfowl habitat, livestock watering, and recreation use for 24 lakes and reservoirs in Valley and Phillips Counties, Montana; 1983; WRI; 83-4008; Ferreira, R. F.